STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTY-FIFTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
ELECTIONS FINANCE AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Representative Quam, Co-Chair of the Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee, called the meeting to order at 1:00PM on March 23, 2026, in Room G23 of the State Capitol Building. A quorum was present.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
QUAM, Duane, Co-Chair
FREIBERG, Mike, Co-Chair
ALTENDORF, Pam, Co-Vice Chair
LEE, Liz, Co-Vice Chair
ACOMB, Patty
COULTER, Nathan
DAVIS, Ben
GORDON, Jimmy
GREENMAN, Emma
MCDONALD, Joe
ROACH, Drew
VIRNIG, Bianca
A quorum was present.
Co-Chair Freiberg moved that the minutes of March 18, 2026 (1PM Hearing) be approved. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Co-Chair Freiberg moved that the minutes of March 18, 2026 (5PM Hearing) be approved. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 4319 (Altendorf) Lake City port authority modified.
Co-Vice Chair Altendorf moved HF 4319 before the committee.
Co-Vice Chair Altendorf moved to adopt the H4319A1 Amendment. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Co-Vice Chair Altendorf moved to adopt the H4319A2 Amendment. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Testifiers:
Doug Grout, Executive Director, Lake City Port Authority
Robert Keehn, City Administrator, Lake City
Kent Sulem, Director of Government Relations and Senior Counsel, Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association
Co-Vice Chair Altendorf moved to re-refer HF 4319 as amended to the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 3295 (Gordon) Open Meeting Law; meeting broadcasting through social media authorized.
Representative Gordon moved HF 3295 before the committee.
Co-Vice Chair Lee moved to adopt the H3295A3 Amendment. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Co-Chair Quam laid over HF 3295 as amended.
HF 3589 (Gordon) Voter permitted to briefly leave a polling place to address an unexpected need, at the discretion of the head election judge.
Representative Gordon moved HF 3589 before the committee.
Representative Gordon moved to adopt the H3589A1 Amendment. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Gordon moved to re-refer HF 3589 as amended to the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 3587 (Gordon) Election judges who assist a voter outside of a polling place required to handle only one voted ballot at a time.
Representative Gordon moved HF 3587 before the committee.
Representative Gordon moved to adopt the H3587A1 Amendment. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Gordon moved to re-refer HF 3587 as amended to the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 3588 (Quam) Eligible persons who may request a public information list expanded.
Co-Chair Quam moved HF 3588 before the committee.
Co-Chair Quam moved to re-refer HF 3588 to the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 4295 (McDonald) County authorized to approve up to 24 chickens on any lot by ordinance.
Representative McDonald moved HF 4295 before the committee.
Testifiers:
Greg Kryzer, County Administrator, Wright County
Representative McDonald moved to re-refer HF 4295 to the Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 3571 (Bakeberg) Watershed districts allowed to self-insure for certain employee health benefits, and technical changes made.
Representative McDonald moved HF 3571 before the committee.
Representative McDonald moved to adopt the H3571DE1 Amendment. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Testifiers:
Joni Giese, Administrator, Prior Lake-Spring Lake Watershed District
Representative McDonald moved to re-refer HF 3571 as amended to the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 3895 (Igo) Zoning authority of local government over certain housing types limited.
Representative McDonald moved HF 3895 before the committee.
Representative McDonald moved to adopt the H3895DE1 Amendment. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative McDonald moved to adopt the H3895A8 Amendment. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Testifiers:
Nick Erickson, Senior Director of Policy for Housing First Minnesota
Martha Njolomole, Economist, Center of the American Experiment
Peter Butler, Coon Rapids City Council Member
Steve Wilson, Council Member, City of Farmington
(Via Zoom) Gabe Kravitz, Manager, Housing Policy Initiative, Government
Performance, The Pew Charitable Trusts
(Via Zoom) Lloyd Hilgart, Mayor, City of Monticello
(Via Zoom) Rick Blake, City Councilor, City of Grand Rapids
(Via Zoom) Jon Radermacher, City Administrator, City of Cannon Falls
(Via Zoom) Kelcey Klemm, City Administrator, City of Detroit Lakes
Kileen Lindgren, Senior State Policy Manager, Pacific Legal Foundation
RaeAnna K. Lee, Legislative and Coalitions Director, Americans for Prosperity
Drinal Foster, Chief Impact Officer, GroundBreak Coalition
Connor Carroll, Volunteer for “Neighbors for more Neighbors,” Minneapolis Resident
Eric Searles, Assistant Community Development Director, City of Woodbury
Representative McDonald moved to re-refer HF 3895 as amended to the General Register.
Representative Acomb requested a roll call vote. The results were as follows:
AYES:
FREIBERG, Mike, Co-Chair
LEE, Liz, Co-Vice Chair
COULTER, Nathan
GREENMAN, Emma
VIRNIG, Bianca
NAYS:
QUAM, Duane, Co-Chair
ALTENDORF, Pam, Co-Vice Chair
ACOMB, Patty
DAVIS, Ben
GORDON, Jimmy
McDonald, Joe
ROACH, Drew
On a vote of 5 AYES and 7 NAYS. THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL.
Co-Chair Quam laid over HF 3895 as amended.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:53PM.
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Representative Duane Quam, Co-Chair
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Joseph Fruehauf, Committee Legislative Assistant